New Fossil Discoveries Reveal the Story of Life in Sudan

Sudan has a rich fossil record spanning various geological periods, including the Stone Age and the Cretaceous, which provides crucial evidence about the evolution of human, animal, and plant life in the region.

3 years ago, A research team from Al Neelain University and the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin, led by Dr. Khalafallah Salih, has announced the discovery of a new fossil crocodile species named Crocodylus sudani.
To discuss this discovery and its geological significance, Sudanow interviewed Dr. Khalafallah Salih, Assistant Professor at the College of Petroleum and Minerals at Al Neelain University and a participating researcher in the PALEONILE project, Dr. Khalafallah began by saying:”The nearly complete skull of this crocodile was found in 2022 in Late Pleistocene deposits near the Atbara River in eastern Sudan, dating to approximately 90,000 to 60,000 years ago.This species is distinguished by unique skull features that set it apart from living crocodiles such as C. niloticus and C. suchus, and it shows evolutionary similarities with extinct crocodiles from East Africa.

Dr.Khalafallah added: “The discovery reveals hidden diversity within the genus Crocodylus in Africa and represents the first formal scientific description of a fossil crocodile from the continent during the Late Pleistocene”.

The team suggests that this species may have survived into more recent times—or may still exist undetected—opening the door for broader research across the Nile Basin and East Africa.
Dr. Khalafallah confirms that the team aims to expand the scope of their research to include other sites along the Nile basin and hopes to review old samples preserved in museums. However, he explains that the current security situation in Sudan, especially due to the war, “has led to the suspension of all field activities for the ‘PaleoNile’ project, which aims to document ancient wildlife in Sudan.”